Ports

Hurricane Polo Forces Pacific Port Restrictions; Manzanillo Partially Open

Hurricane Polo is disrupting container traffic along Mexico's Pacific coast with widespread port closures and restrictions as the powerful storm drifts northward. The Port of Manzanillo remains partially operational, allowing large commercial container vessels to continue operations while smaller ships under 500 gross tonnage are barred from entering. The Mexican Navy closed the ports of Acapulco and Zihuatanejo in Guerrero to large vessels, with smaller vessels restricted at these locations as well as at Puerto Marqués, Lázaro Cárdenas, and other regional facilities. Polo weakened from Category 5 to Category 4 strength Wednesday, maintaining maximum sustained winds of 150 mph while moving north at just 2 mph. The storm's sluggish pace prolongs coastal threats. As of Wednesday, Polo was positioned approximately 320 miles southeast of Manzanillo and 165 miles south of Zihuatanejo. Docked vessels have been advised to reinforce mooring systems as outer rainbands reach southwestern Mexico.